HFB Takes Home HOME Award
April 27, 2009Home Furnishings Business, the retail strategy magazine for the home furnishings industry, was awarded the HOME award for trade publications by the American Home Furnishings Alliance this morning at the High Point Market.
The award recognizes media coverage of home furnishings products and trends. Entries are accepted in four categories: newspaper, consumer magazine, trade publication and broadcast.
Home Furnishings Business was honored for a series of stories on the greening of the furniture industry in its February 2008 issue. Trade publication entries are judged on the degree to which the writer helps the industry understand product trends or consumer marketing issues.
In commenting on the entry, judges lauded the articles for presenting complex clearly but without oversimplifying. Specific topics covered included the pitfalls of greenwashing, the level of eco-conciousness among furniture shoppers and how retailers are saving money through better environmental stewardship. One judge described the series as "thoughtful, well-researched and documented journalism that is a must-read for every home furnishings professional."
"The entire Home Furnishings Business team is ecstatic about the HOME award," said Sheila Long O'Mara, editor in chief of the publication. "The sustainability issue remains an important part of furniture retailing and manufacturing, and we'll continue to provide our retail readers with relevant information on this topic and others key to their business.”
Home Furnishings Business was founded in 2005 and published its first issue in February 2006. Since then, the monthly magazine has become the go-to industry publication for furniture retailers hungry for strategic information and ideas in running their stores.
Consumer media honored with the HOME award, include Patricia Sheridan, design writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in the newspaper category; and Design NJ Magazine, a regional home and design publication. Honorable mentions went to Nancy Herrick, a freelance writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Metropolitan Home; and Furniture World.
Judges for the awards are members of AHFA's Public Relations Council along with the previous year's HOME award winners. Members of the council are: Doug Bassett, Vaughn-Bassett; Teresa Buelin, Laneventure; Dot Coggin, Thayer Coggin; Kristen Hawkins, Broyhill Furniture; Holly Blalock, C.R. Laine; Laura Holland, Hickory Chair; Saverio Mancina, Rowe Furniture; Justin Mills, Flexsteel; Jay Moore, Bassett Furniture; Kim Shaver, Hooker Furniture; and Ed Tashjian, formerly of Century Furniture.
